JSerra, now a Trinity League contender, beats St. Bonaventure, 42-28
All hail the Trinity League, home of the best group of six high school football teams in California, if not the nation.
No one needs to remind San Juan Capistrano JSerra or its fans of that fact.
For the last eight years, the Lions have been trying to earn a Pac-5 Division playoff berth without success.
You have to finish among the top three Trinity League teams or gain an at-large berth as the No. 4 team.
Last season, the Lions went 5-0 in nonleague games. But a 2-3 record in league left them home come playoff time.
“There’s no guarantee we’re going to go this year,” Coach Jim Hartigan said this week.
What’s certain, based on JSerra’s 42-28 victory over Ventura St. Bonaventure on Friday night, is that the Lions (4-0) are going to give St. John Bosco (3-0), Mater Dei (3-0), Servite (3-1), Santa Margarita (3-1) and Orange Lutheran (3-1) something to worry about.
This isn’t your typical JSerra team, in which the Lions have been outsized and outmuscled on the offensive line. They have size, led by 6-foot-5, 265-pound junior Luke Wattenberg. They have experience, and they like blocking for standout senior quarterback Nick Robinson, who still hasn’t made a turnover in four victories.
“He’s going to make good decisions,” Hartigan said. “He knows what makes us tick..”
Yes, Dante Pettis, last season’s star, has moved on to Washington, but Paramount transfer Edward Vander has provided a big lift. He had a 72-yard touchdown run and caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Robinson. He finished with 154 yards rushing.
“He’s a good combination of power and speed,” Hartigan said.
The versatile Ethan Aguayo caught a 25-yard touchdown pass and returned a kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown.
St. Bonaventure (2-2) is finally finished with its weekly marathon trips.
There was a 340-mile round trip to San Diego, 174 miles to Long Beach, 260 miles to Redlands and 232 on Friday night to Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. The Seraphs had some good moments, but they’re also in the Pac-5, and a loss to JSerra won’t help come seeding time.
Chris Santoyo had an 80-yard touchdown run. Lavan Alston caught eight passes for 176 yards and one touchdown. Ricky Town completed 21 of 42 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns but was sacked five times.
The Seraphs’ defense could not come up with stops when needed.
JSerra will finish up its nonleague schedule against St. Paul next week before opening league play on Oct. 10 against Santa Margarita.
“We have to clean up some things and reduce our penalties for the Trinity League,” Hartigan said.
The Lions are getting close. It’s just that in the Trinity League, close sometimes isn’t enough.
Twitter: LATSondheimer
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